Improvement in elevators



3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

W. E L M ES.

Eevators.

Patented Oct. 22,1872.

3 Sheets--Sheet3.

W. ELMES.

Elevators. y

Patented ocr. 22,1872.

. STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM ELMES, OF GEORGETOWN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ALEXAN- DER RAY,OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN ELEVATORS.

Specification formingl part of Letters Patent No. 132,459, dated October22, 1872.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELMZES, of Georgetown, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machineryfor Loading, Lifting, Carrying, and Dumping Coal and other articles, ofwhich improvements the following is a specification:

My invention, although capable of beingused for many other purposes, ismore especially adapted to the loading of coal into a vessel from awharf, or vice versa; and its object is to do this work in an efficient,economical way by mechanism, and thus dispense as much as practicablewith hand-labor. The subject-matter claimed is hereinafter particularlyspecified.

The accompanying drawing of my improved apparatus shows all myinventions embodied in the best way now known to me. Obviously some ofmy improvements may be used without the others, and the details ofconstruction of the mechanism may be varied somewhat, in ways well knownto skillful constructors of such machinery, without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a side elevation; Fig. 3, an end elevation;Fig. 4, a side view of the truck; Fig. 5, a view of the brake; and Fig.6, a view of the clamping-lever.

Over or upon a wharf or platform, A, a stout frame, B, is erected insuch manner as to leave an unobstructed central space for the receptionof a tram-way, C C', suspended beneath the frame, and so constructed asto leave the space between its rails clear. A truck, D, is made of suchwidth as to traverse freely in the space between the rails of thetram-way, and its sides are of such depth as to extend above and belowthe rails, by which mode of construction its center of gravity islowered and its lateral escape from the tram-way prevented. The truck ismounted on flanged wheels d which run upon the tram-way. The latter7 itwill be observed, inclines forward and downward at a slight angle, (say,about ve degrees,) that theloaded truck may runforward with ease. Toprevent accidents, brakeshoes e el, arranged on each side of the truckabove and below each rail of the tram-way, are pivoted at one end to alink, e2, liked on the truck, and at the other carry pins l which workin slots 2 3 in a brake-lever, E, rocking von a pivot, 4, on the truck.These levers exf tend behind the truck, and are connected by across-bar, 5. An attendant rides in a carriage, F, suspended from thetruck, and controls its movements, as hereinafter explained. Fig. 4illustrates the operation of this clampin g-brake. A hod, G, (bypreference constructsition, and driven by any suitable power andgearing. A coupling-clutch friction-brake, k, is applied to thiswindlass.

The following is the best method of working my apparatus: Supposing theposition to be that shown in full lines in Fig. 2. An attendant guidesthe hod'by means of its handle into the pile of coal; the attendant onthe carriage clamps the truck to the track by the brakes E; the engineerstarts the windlass, and the rope is wound around the spool H, draggingthe hod into the coal, and, when full, lifting it clear of the pile. Theattendant on the carriage then clamps the spool by means of the lever J,and 'thus holds the hod in its elevated position, simultaneouslyreleasing the truck-brakes. The engineer then releases the windlass, therope t' unwinds, and the truck runs by its' own gravity down the inclineto the place of discharge, where the latch g3 is tripped and the hodemptied. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show this position. If the hod hasbeen lowered the attendant clamps the truck on the track, the engineerstarts the windlass, and the hod is lifted. The friction-brake is thenapplied to the spool, and the clamps c el are released7 when the truckis drawn up the incline by the engineer. The truck is then clamped onthe track, the spool released, the the hod descends, and the operationabove described is repeated.

Under some circumstances-such, for instance, as where the distances tobe traversed always remain uniformit may be advantageous to use devicesautomatically to stop the movements of the hod and truck, and to controlthe motive power and the discharge from the attendants carriage on thetruck. My invention contemplates the use of such devices when deemedexpedient, their mode of application being well known to skillfulconstruct- 01's of such machinery. I have, however, in practice, incoal-hoisting, found the plan above described more practical, as thedistance between the points of loading and discharging constantlyvaries. The tram-way in this instance, it will be observed, projectsbeyond the frame or wharf so as to extend over a vessel. In order thatthe tram-way may be removed out of the way when not in use, I divide ittransversely at w; brace the outer section G by tie-rods m1,- hinge itto swing on a pivot, x2, so that it may turn into the position shown inVdotted lines in Fig. 2, and lock it in place by pins y.

I claim as my inventionl. The construction of the wharf, the frame, andthe pivotedk suspended projecting section of the tramway, as set forth,to project over the vessel while loading, and to swing out of the waywhen not in use.

2. The combination of the tram-way, the i truck, and the clamping-shoesto lock it upon the rails, substantially as set forth.

3. The truck, constructed, as described, with a suspended carriage forthe workman, to enable him to control the brakes, as set forth.

4. The combination of the tram-way, the truck, thehoistingspool, andthewinding-rope, substantially as set forth, to enable the attendant toregulate both the hoisting of the hod and the traverse of the truck.

"5. rlhe hod, constructed as described, with gathering-teeth, aguiding-handle, a fixed bail, a swinging door, and a latch.

6. The combination of the hod, the hoistingrope. the truck, the clampingshoes, the spool, its friction-brake, andthe track-rope and windlass,substantially as set forth, to enable the attendant on the carriage tocheck the ascent of the hod, hold it up, and release the carriage to bedrawn back.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM ELMES.

Witnesses:

E. C. DAvIDsON, BALrIs DE LONG.

